Life of Ages, Richly Poured

Life of ages, richly poured,
Love of God, unspent and free,
Flowing in the prophet’s word,
And the people’s liberty.

Never was to chosen race
That unstinted tide confined
Thine is every time and place,
Fountain sweet of heart and mind.

Breathing in the thinker’s creed,
Pulsing in the hero’s blood,
Nerving noblest thought and deed,
Fresh’ning time with truth and good.

Consecrating art and song,
Holy book and pilgrim way,
Quelling strife and tyrant wrong,
Widening freedom’s sacred sway.

Author: Samuel Johnson

Year: 1864

Samuel Johnson (1822–1882), an American Unitarian clergyman and hymnwriter, is the accepted author of this text. It first appeared in his 1864 collection 'Hymns of the Spirit' (co-edited with Samuel Longfellow). No significant alternate attributions exist.